Employer contributions to dental care rated highly by employees

Making a contribution towards the cost of dental treatment is one of the benefits most valued by workers, according to research by health insurance firm HSA.

A poll of 321 companies found nearly two-thirds believed their employees would most value dental benefits.

This put the benefit above other healthcare benefits such as optical, complementary therapies, employee assistance programmes and cholesterol and blood pressure checks, it found.

Yet, despite this, more than two-thirds of companies would not consider paying for dental benefits, as they perceived them to be too expensive.

Richard Halley, head of B2B sales at HSA, said: “If working people are putting off visiting the dentist due to cost, this could result in their oral health worsening, which could affect sickness absence.”